Mork and Mindy Meet Rick and Ruby

"Mork and Mindy Meet Rick and Ruby"
Season 3, Episode #17 (#68) in series (95 episodes)
"Mork & Mindy" episode
Guest Star(s):	Brian Seff Monica Ganas Joshua Raoul Brody
Network:	ABC-TV
Production code:	317 (3x17)
Writer(s)	Dale McRaven & Bruce Johnson
Director	Howard Storm
Original airdate	March 26, 1981
IMDB	Mork and Mindy Meet Rick and Ruby
Episode chronology
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"Mork, the Swinging Single"	"Mork and the Family Reunion"
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Mork and Mindy Meet Rick and Ruby was the 17th episode from Season 3 of Mork and Mindy, the 68th overall episode in the series. Written by Dale McRaven and Bruce Johnson, the episode, which was directed by Howard Storm, shot on February 27, 1981 and premiered on ABC-TV on March 26, 1981.

Synopsis

When an angry Mork informs Mindy that Remo has fired a singer hired to entertain at the Da Vinci's because she's pregnant, Mindy takes up the cause leading a picket and challenging Remo's sexist attitudes. A challenge that could end up costing her.

Plot

Mindy is finishing up composing a letter to Cora, filling her in on what is happening in Boulder, and with Mork, when he enters at a near run, agitated and angry. So angry he feels like he could hold his breath and explode. Asking him not to explode as she's just vacuumed, and waiting him out a little, Mindy asks him what has him so angry? Whereupon he explains he met two singers named Rick & Ruby, who have driven all the way out from Akron, Ohio only for the guy that hired them, fired them just because Ruby's rabbit died 7 months ago. Blinking Mindy wonders what he's talking about until she realizes he means the pregnancy test. Sitting right backdown she clarifies the woman was fired just because she was pregnant? And wants to know who would do such an insensitive sexist thing like that? Remo, Mork replies, and Mindy nods feeling that explains that.

She is surprised however to hear that Remo has entertainment in Da Vinci's. Remo thinks it will boost business or something, Mork replies still upset that not only have this couple been summarily fired, but without income have been stranded, with nowhere to stay. She can understand how angry he is, in fact it makes her angry, asking so what if she's pregnant, if a woman is able to work she should be allowed to work, She'd never turn anyone like that out on the street would she he asks Mindy. Of course not, she agrees vehemently. Really? He checks. No way would she turn them out, she confirms before Mork yells at the door, 'She says it's okay! C'mon in!'

Swinging around, Mindy watches a man and heavily pregnant woman enter, the woman carrying two heavy cases. Realizing she's walked right into again, Mindy stands up as Mork introduces her to the clueless and self absorbed Rick and the wild haired, smiling but slightly vacant eyed, Ruby. Rick thanks Mindy for taking them in, Ruby agreeing, saying for all she knew they could've been a couple of 'real ding dongs!'. Confirmation of the intelligence level of the pair, comes when Ruby confides to Mindy that they're not entirely sure the baby she's carrying, is hers. When Ruby asks Rick to help her with the cases, he happily agrees, and then helps her swap hands, saying he's beat and would like to lie down. Mork goes to show them to 'their room' and Mindy has to dash quickly to get in front of him, as he leads them towards her bedroom, and stops him reminding him of that fact. He realizes that, but points out they both can't sleep on the couch, then compromises with the idea that she and Rick could share the bed, and before he can finish the thought, Mindy directs the couple into her bedroom. Though Mork promptly makes it worse by telling them as they go that 'the next three months will just fly by', Mindy's querying the timeline through gritted teeth. Ruby though thinks it's going to be a lot of fun, sharing beauty tips, thinking its so great to be able to live in a country where you can have hair like hers and still be allowed to breed.

At DaVinci's later, Mindy is in a full blown argument with Remo as Mork and Jeanie (and the customers) look on. Telling him straight out that his decision was sexist, Remo replying the only reason she's saying that is because she's a woman. Going after him after he walks away from her, she tells him that remark was sexist. He's not a sexist he insists. He's a man. And then clicks his fingers at his sister, telling her to bring water for Table 8. Who promptly tells him what to stuff. Mindy looking smugly back at him. Remo says he was raised to believe that pregnant women should be taken care of, they shouldn't work, ergo he respects women. Narrow eyed Mindy points out that if he 'respects' pregnant women so much he should allow Ruby to make the choice, and reiterates that he's a *real* chauvinist, which Mork backs up vehemently, before asking Mindy what they mean by that? In Remo's case, she explains, its a general attitude that women are inferior. Yeah? Mork waits. Well they're not! She insists. He knows that, he tells her, they cook better, they clean better they sew better. Eyeing Mork she tells him she'll speak with him about this...later.

Jeanie returning to them, tells them Remo's always been like this. When they were kids they used to play King of the Hill. He was always the King. She was always the Hill. 'Sexist' she tells him, walking away. Mork asks Mindy for a chance to deal with Remo, and she steps back. Mork suggests to Remo he should think of the worst thing that could happen, that he lets them sing, and Ruby hits a high note, and everyone suddenly realizes she's not singing. And that couldn't happen, Mindy, points out as she's only 7 months pregnant. But Remo's not for turning, he's the one who has to live with it, and that's that. An incredulous Mindy warns him that there would be quite a few women's groups around Boulder who would love to hear about his attitude. She tells him straight up she's going to make a few phone calls, and she'll bet he ends up with a picket line outside his front door. Remo shrugs it off, saying that's her right, just make sure none of them are pregnant! Mindy fumes as he walks away, and Mork trying to empathize fumes along with her, but then tells her he'll get some men's groups together to support them, the ladies can cheer them on from the sidelines, and supply them with coffee and 'those little sissy sandwiches'. Staring at Mork for a moment, Mindy walks off shaking her head.

Later however, she has carried through on her threat, and Remo can only watch from the door as the picket outside chants 'Don't Eat At Da Vinci's' with even his date for that evening. Thelma Jenkins. on the line. Playing solitaire at one of the tables, Jeanie placidly tells him as she peruses her cards, if he wants to get rid of the pickets, hire Rick *and* Ruby. He refuses to hire a 'helpless' pregnant woman, saying he's standing on principle. 'You're 27 years old,' she points out, 'Why start now?'. Mork marches in carrying a picket sign denouncing Remo as a sexist, and chanting don't eat at Da Vinci's before calling lunch break and going to sit order three burritos and lots of ice cream. Remo says at least they have one customer and goes to ask his sister to help, but checking her watch she informs him she's on her lunch break too, takes the picket sign from Mork and walks out to join the picket line. Remo look at Mork, and tells him he could really get mad at Mindy. Why, Mork asks, she's just doing what she thinks is right. Mindy enters with Ruby, while Remo rushes to get Ruby a seat, Mindy rolls her eyes at seeing Mork sitting down and reminding him he's crossed the picket line, he's supposed to be stopping people coming in. Remo tries to get Mindy to get together with him on this, but her fixed smile makes it clear he's going to get nowhere. Remo wants Mork to hear his side of things, but pauses to ask Ruby where Rick is. And she tells him he's back at Mindy's sleeping, having told her this is all her fault so she should be the one to picket. Mork think that sounds fair, but an aghast Mindy retorts that its' not 'None of this is fair!'

Remo tells her that apart from his feelings, this is a business and no one is going to pay to see someone in her condition. He has a point, Mork says to Mindy. No he doesn't she insists, her condition has no affect on her ability to sing. She has a point, Mork suggests to Remo. Remo appeals to Mork that apart from risking losing his customers, he has to pay the band a salary, and suggests if Mindy was in his place she would never do it. Mork looks to Mindy, who says immediately she absolutely would. And Remo turns to her telling her, she's on! Caught wrongfooted, she tries to say she never said she'd do that, but Mork cuts her off saying he knew she'd do the right thing, because she's always on the side of the right! Ruby starts to thank her, but Mindy baulks, until Mork asks her if she's going to be a 'Shiksa Giver'? No, she decides, no. She will agree to pay their salary IF, they chase customers away . If they don't, Remo will pay their salary. Okay he agrees, Okay she echoes, it's no big deal. It's not Vegas she notes, how much could it be? Having a mild heart attack when Remo smugly tells her $500 a week. Catching his look, Mindy puts on a good face, saying that's fine, that's okay...because talent will out, she points at Ruby. About that, Remo says to her, asking her if she knows the name of the band, and prompts Mindy to ask Ruby. Shrugging, Mindy sits down with her and asks. The Stupids, Ruby tells her. "The what?" Mindy asks staring at her, Ruby explaining they get up on stage and 'pretend' to be stupid. What else do they do, Mork asks? Sing songs no one wants to hear. And when Mindy asks don't most performers sing songs people *want* to hear? Ruby nods, but then they're "The Stupids" Mindy nods starting to get the idea of what she's got herself in for.

On opening night, the band set up, Mindy sitting with Mork is fretting about why Rick and Ruby aren't on stage? Jeanie comes briskly out from the kitchen to inform them that the two of them are in the kitchen arm wrestling over the name of the baby. As they emerge, Rick is adamant that no matter how many times she pins him, he's not letting Ruby call the baby, Trigger, before they wonder why so many people are there? Their keyboardist, Raoul, wearily tells them to get on stage or the rest of them are going back to Akron. Getting up on stage, after some bickering over whether to let the audience help them with the baby's name, Rick refusing because they're in Colorado, and they would all go for Trigger, they start to perform, launching into a cover of Ike & Tina Turner's 'River Deep, Mountain High', Ruby revealing a storming smoky voice, the rocking version getting the crowd going, much to Mindy's delight. Getting a rousing reception as they finish, Remo approaches them praising them and admitting he was completely wrong. Ruby thanks him happily, before making a small announcement to the audience 'I'm having a baby' and she is having it 'now'. Remo and Rick exchange looks, before Remo collapses back into his sisters arms.

Come the second night, and word has gotten around, Da Vinci's packed again. Remo bemoaning the fact that it's 2 cent Beer Night, and he has a lead singer 'dogging it' in the hospital with a baby called Trigger. Mindy takes issue that spending the day in the hospital after giving birth is 'dogging it'. But Remo suggests Ruby lied to him, that she wasn't 7 but 9 months pregnant. Mork suggests its not her fault, she started counting after she found out she was pregnant. Remo doesn't know whose fault it is, all he knows is he doesn't have a singer. Both Remo and Mindy are surprised and amused when Mork volunteers, saying he sings all the time, in the shower, even upside down. Remo thanks Mork but suggests he needs someone who can sing somewhere other than the shower. Mork tries again, but Rick interrupts wanting to know what's wrong with them, he and Raoul both sing. Remo points out Ruby is the only one he actually 'heard' sing, but Rick insists he is the talent in the group, before getting Remo to introduce them. The band start playing and Rick and Raoul sing the opening harmony, before Rick points to Ruby's empty mike stand...the backing music goes on...and they sing another bout of the harmonies. "Kinda leaves you wanting more, don't it?" Mork comments to Mindy and Remo. The latter rushing quickly back to the stage to stop the band. After arguing over the lack of lead vocals with Rick, Remo is about to call a halt to proceedings, Mork volunteers again, Mindy trying to talk him out of it, reminding he's never sung in front of an audience before. But with little to lose Remo washes his hands of it and lets Mork up on stage.

The band launches into the opening riffs of the Rolling Stones, Brown Sugar, Mork going full Mick Jagger accent and moves, before announcing he doesn't know the words to that song. What song do you know, Raoul demands, and Mork suggests 'This Heart is Closed for Alterations?' Rick brightens at that, saying that's their theme song, and Raoul hands him Ruby's cowboy hat. Mork immediately taking on a full Western persona with the audience, before launching into the country ballad, and doing so wonderfully, displaying a tuneful tenor voice, really selling the song...somewhat perplexing the crowd, and sending Mindy into a fit of the giggles, when he launches into an Orkan monologue...before finishing strongly, the crowd giving him a rousing ovation. Rising up, applauding wildly, Mindy moves to him as he steps down, absolutely amazed, never dreaming he knew how to sing like that. And more she can't believe he got up in front of all these people he never met before and cool as a cucumber just sang his heart out, with nerves of steel! Thanking her, he tells her he'd like to ask her a question, wondering what it means when your legs get kinda weak and you feel queasy and you kinda black out? Sounds like you're gonna faint, she answers, smile fading. Mork's relieved however, thinking it meant he was going to have a baby.

Mork gives his report to Orson in full show biz mode, waving a cigar around, which Orson immediately asks him about. He has it because he has reason to celebrate, having helped an Earthling get a job. He's especially proud as this Earthling was being discriminated against, being, as they say on Ork 'with testtube'. Ah Earth pregnancy, Orson notes, Mork having explained it to him once. Yes, Mork says it starts off with the Birds & the Bees and ends up with Pickles & Ice Cream. Orson queries whether he's saying that Earthlings can't work in that 'enlarged' condition? Of course they can, Mork responds positively, after all it never stopped Orson. Snippily Orson says he wouldn't know, he's not pregnant. Mork jokes that for all he knows he could be ready to hatch an entire village. Telling him to get on with it, Mork reports that its the Expectant Mother that knows what is best for her. Sounds reasonable, Orson concludes, it is her pregnancy after all. Mork tells him he has won the magic prize. That many people think that it is the end of a woman's career, when in fact it's just a pregnant pause.

Trivia

Orkan 'Facts'

• Mork says Orkans hold their breath until they turn Chartreuse (Green or Yellow), reach critical mass and explode. We can be pretty sure that this is a Mork exaggeration, as he already held his breath (Mork Gets Mindy-itis) to the point of passing out, turning red and collapsing, like humans.

General

• The Stupeds (aka The Rick and Ruby Show) was an established musical-comedy act prior to their appearance on Mork & Mindy. Friends of Robin Williams before Mork & Mindy, (having played at his wedding) the were the opening act for Robin Williams on his 79 National Tour. On the poster in the show, they're billed as "The Stupids starring Rick & Ruby."
• They became part of the show after Bruce Johnson saw them in that capacity, felt they needed to get them on the show, and organized to write an episode around them specifically.
• The song that Mork sings This Heart is Closed For Alterations was written by Jonathan Katz of Katz and Jammers, and Dr Katz fame who had been musical director on Robin Williams 1979 National Tour, on which Rick & Ruby had been the opening act.

Pop Culture

• Mork tells Mindy Orkans hold their breath until they reach critical mass and explode like Scanners. Scanners was the 1981 David Cronenberg 'body horror movie, about people with telepathic/telekinetic powers (Scanners) who could attack people and in some cases, cause their heads to explode.
• The Rabbit Died test comes up again, referring to the early pregnancy tests for women using rabbits to discern positive or negative tests. In actuality the rabbit died both ways.
• The baby name Rick & Ruby fight over, Trigger, is the name of Country and Western singing and movie star Roy Rogers' Horse.
• Mork does a Lawrence Welk impersonation as he does his initial intro on stage, quoting Wild Cherry's Play that Funky Music
• He then does a full on Mick Jagger impersonation with the opening riffs of the Rolling Stones Brown Sugar, before petering out.
• Mork does a brief George Burns impersonation (due to his cigar) telling Bebo to 'Say Goodnight', in an homage to Burn's famous sign off 'Say Goodnight, Gracie'

Quotes/Excerpts

• Mork: Min! Oh Min it's so terrible! Mind I could just hold my breath until I turn chartreuse!
• Mindy: That's blue Mork, it's hold your breath until you turn blue.
• Mork: Oh no, we Orkans hold our breath until we turn chartreuse, Mind! That's just before we reach critical mass and explode. You know like Scanners?! *pulls Scanners overload face*
• Mindy: Well, please don't explode. I just vacuumed. Ahrr Ahrr.

____________________________________________

• Mork: They fired her just because her rabbit died 7 months ago!
• Mindy: *confused* What?! *blinks* Wait a minute! They fired her just because she was pregnant?! Who would do such an insensitive sexist thing like that?!
• Mork: Remo.
• Mindy: Oh. That explains it.

____________________________________________

• Rick: We're sure glad you're taking us in!
• Ruby: Yeah, really nice of you, we're total strangers 'n everything! I mean we could've been a couple of real ding dongs!
• Mindy: I guess I just lucked out.
• Rick: Or even worse we could've been robbers or axe murderers or game show hosts or something.
• Ruby: Tell you the truth we're not really all that trustworthy ourselves. *leans towards her* We're...we're not sure this baby is mine.

____________________________________________

• Mork: Now Remo now imagine the worst thing that could possibly happen, lets say you hire Ruby and the little lady is up there singing on stage and all of a sudden she hits a high note and we all realize that she's not singing.
• Mindy: And that couldn't happen because she's only 7 months pregnant.
• Mork: Yeah!! And even if she does give birth on stage, do you have any idea how many people would pay money to come back to see her do that again?!

Image Gallery

Cast (in credits order)

Starring

• Robin Williams as Mork
• Pam Dawber as Mindy McConnell
• Jay Thomas as Remo DaVinci
• Gina Hecht as Jeanie DaVinci
• Crissy Wilzak as Glenda Faye Comstock
• Tom Poston as Mr. Bickley
• Ralph James as Orson

Recurring cast/guest stars

• Brian Seff as Rick
• Monica Ganas as Ruby
• Joshua Raoul Brody as Raoul
• Gregg Berger (Voice) as Bebo

More external links

• Hulu
• "Mork and Mindy Meet Rick and Ruby" at TV.com